The former
HSwMS Najaden, a Swedish naval
training ship, has been purchased by the Maritime Centre Fredrickstad
in Norway. Najaden, which translates as
naiad or water nymph, was built in 1897 and served as a sail-training
ship for the Swedish Navy until 1938. In 1946 she was taken over by the
Swedish city of Halmstad, restored and then operated as a museum ship
moored in the River Nissan.

Measuring
only 350 tonnes displacement and 37.38m on deck, Najaden at is one of
the smallest ship-rigged vessels ever built. Her construction is
composite; pine on steel frames and she has no auxilliary power. Her
rig is unusual even for ships built at her time in that she has full
topsails and can set studding sails.

In her new
home she will be in the care of the Maritime Centre Fredrikstad who
operate a shipyard which specializes in the maintenance of traditional
vessels. They hope to be able to raise the money to provide her with an
engine, make a full set of sails, including stunsails, attend to the
rigging and finally to have her sailing again representing the City of
Fredrikstad.